The New Orleans Musicians’ Assistance Foundation (NOMAF) is the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports and expands the mission of the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic (NOMC). Your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Donate Today!

Hearing Loss and Decibel Levels

Damaging Decibels

Sounds above 90 decibels (dB, a measurement of the loudness or strength of sound vibration) may cause vibrations intense enough to damage the inner ear, especially if the sound continues for a long time. A jackhammer produces a sustained noise level of 120 dB, the noise from a large truck can peak at 90 dB, and the average noise level inside the cabin of an airplane can be between 90 and 100 dB over the duration of your flight. If you turn up your iPod or car radio to drown out the racket around you, you are actually blasting your ears with a dangerous level of sound. This combination of noise can cause hearing damage in a very short period of time. For further information, please visit Dangerous Decibels.

HOW SAFE IS YOUR SOUND?

REDUCE YOUR RISK OF HEARING LOSS BY PRACTICING SAFE SOUNDS!

Preserve New Orleans’ sounds, the soul of the New Orleans’ cultural heritage and the driving force of our tourist economy.

Steps to Prevent Hearing Loss:

1. Turn down the volume

2. Take a break in a quiet space

3. Never stand in front of a speaker! Put some distance between you and the sound source.

The New Orleans Musicians’ Assistance Foundation (NOMAF) evolved from the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic (NOMC, established 1998) following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

NOMAF expands the services of the NOMC and its mission to keep New Orleans music ALIVE by sustaining New Orleans’ traditional music cultures. We do this by providing cost-efficient access to comprehensive, wellness education and preventive health care, mental health and social services. Regardless of the patients’ ability to pay, NOMC is the medical home for more than 2,500 local musicians and tradition bearers. Visit us at www.NOMAF.org